TAMPA, Fla. _ This time against Ottawa, the Lightning didn't have to play catch-up for most of the game.
This time, the Lightning actually held a lead _ 4-2 to be exact.
But this time, the Lightning were on the other end of a third-period comeback.
After Tampa Bay rallied to defeat the Senators in Ottawa last Sunday, Ottawa scored four third-period goals to come from behind and defeat the Lightning, 6-4, on Saturday at Amalie Arena.
Though the Lightning (12-4-1) and Senators flipped roles in how they finished, both teams did their best to put together a re-run of Sunday's game in the first period.
First, it started with the Ottawa goal about five minutes into the game. In Ottawa, Bobby Ryan filled that role for the Senators. In Tampa, Matt Duchene took up the responsibility of scoring that goal as he scored his sixth goal of the season off a wraparound 4:98 into the game.
Although Ryan didn't get his chance to score that first goal again, he added his second first-period goal against the Lightning about three minutes later. His hustle made the goal possible as he dove to poke the puck past Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy off his own rebound.
The Senators held a 2-0 first-period lead over the Lightning for the second time this week.
But this time, the Lightning didn't wait until the second period to score. And this time, Mathieu Joseph didn't wait until the third period to score his goal.
While on the move, Joseph snuck a puck under Craig Anderson's leg to bring Tampa Bay within 2-1 with 11:11 left in the first period. The score marked Joseph's third goal in four games after he scored his first NHL goal in Ottawa.
Neither the Lightning nor the Senators could capitalize on one power-play opportunity each team had. Tampa Bay, however, did have some prime opportunities and good looks, two of which came as Victor Hedman tried to set Nikita Kucherov up with a one-timer in the right circle.
The Lightning might have squandered their first opportunity, but they made the most of their second. And Tampa Bay didn't waste much time.
Thirty-nine seconds into the second period, Hedman skated past two defensemen to score a five-hole goal that tied the game at 2. Hedman missed the past seven games with an upper-body injury.
The scoring proved contagious for the defenseman. Defenseman Brayden Coburn gave Tampa Bay the lead with 10:45 left in the second with a rocket from the blue line. Mathieu Joseph registered an assist on Coburn's third goal of the season.
Then Joseph scored his own second-period goal to give the Lightning a 4-2 lead with 5:28 left in the second period. It was Joseph's first multi-goal game of his career.
None of these scorers in a three-goal period were superstars such as Steven Stamkos or Brayden Point or Kucherov. The fact the Lightning didn't need any of those three scorers to tally points is a prime example of the impressive depth Ottawa coach Guy Boucher mentioned before the game.
It is depth Boucher said he's not sure any team in the league has.
"If you give them time and space, in general, you're done," Boucher said. "They have so much talent. They have so much speed. Every line can score."
Although the Senators at times gave time and space to the Lightning that led to goals in the second, it did not mean the Senators were done. Far from it.
Fifty seconds into the third period, Ottawa drew within 4-3. Brady Tkachuk put the puck on net, and as it trickled toward the goal line, Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi accidentally knocked the puck in as he tried to clear it.
Then, Tkachuk doubled up. He scored his second goal of the game three seconds into a power play after Joseph was called for delay of game.
By the time 9:30 remained on the clock in the third period, Ottawa held a 5-4 lead after center Ryan Dzingel scored.
With 11.5 seconds left, Mark Stone scored a power-play goal.
Next up, the Lightning will go on a four-game road trip, starting with a game in Buffalo.
